Sermorelin
Sermorelin is GHRH(1-29), the shortest fully active fragment of growth-hormone-releasing hormone. It was an FDA-approved product (Geref) used as a diagnostic agent for GH secretion and to treat childhood GH deficiency before being discontinued for commercial reasons. It stimulates pulsatile endogenous GH release and is now popular in anti-ageing/wellness clinics. Human data exists but is older.
01 Overview
As native GHRH(1-29), sermorelin binds the pituitary GHRH receptor to promote synthesis and pulsatile release of growth hormone, preserving feedback regulation. Its clinical history as a diagnostic and paediatric therapy gives it more human evidence than most secretagogues, though the branded product is no longer marketed.
It is short-acting and dosed at night to mirror physiological GH pulses. Wellness use targets sleep, recovery and body composition; efficacy for these in healthy adults is modest and not rigorously established.
02 Mechanism
GHRH(1-29) analogue that activates the pituitary GHRH receptor, stimulating synthesis and pulsatile secretion of endogenous growth hormone with intact negative feedback.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellness/anti-ageing (off-label) | 100–500 mcg/day | SubQ | Typically dosed at bedtime; historical diagnostic dose was ~1 mcg/kg IV. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raised GH and IGF-1Stimulates pulsatile GH release; used clinically as a provocative test of pituitary GH reserve. | Clinical | ||
| Improved sleepBedtime dosing reportedly improves sleep quality, consistent with GHRH's role in slow-wave sleep. | Observational | ||
| Fat loss and recoveryReported modest body-composition and recovery benefits in wellness use; not rigorously established. | Anecdotal |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection-site reactionsLocal redness, pain or swelling, the most frequent reaction in trials. | Mild | Common | Clinical | |
| Flushing / transient dizzinessFacial flushing, headache or light-headedness after dosing. | Mild | Uncommon | Clinical | |
| Mild water retentionSlight fluid retention or wrist tingling from GH elevation. | Mild | Uncommon at typical doses | Anecdotal |